South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1887-04-29
A JOKE INDEED.
BY MARGARET EyTINGE.


Adrian Mosscroft was in, or very near
ly in, the depths of despair. Every
thing had been going more or less wrong
with him ever since the first day Of the
newyear. On that day an adroit pickpock-
ct had relieved him of his gold watch and
his wallet, the latter containing his saw
ings for several months. fact, all the
money he had in the w;rld, for Adrian
lad not begun 10 save until he met
Ethel Burroughs, the pretty buyer of the
lace department of an enormous up
town establishment. Shortly after the
loss of his fortune he was taken down to
his bed with rheumatism, and there he
remained for two months, and when he
got up again he found himself out of n
situation, the firm in whose employ he
had been for more than five years havin,
gone" as their GRAND boy expressed it
and 'bustcd with the biggest kind of
bust.
"What in Heavens name am to DOR
asked Adrian of himself one morning as
Inc paced to and fro in the small room he
occupied in Mrs. Hasaer's "homo for
few select boardcrs." "Oi course I shall
get ano her situation soon but | am
already in debt, which it will take me
long time to clear W Y, and-and-
confound it, shan't be able to invite
Ethel to go anywhere, or to give her any
bouquets, or candles, or books, or any
thing else. By jove I've n good mind
10 ask Aunt Tamasin for loan. She
must be pretty we'll off, for she used to
tip me generously when / was boy.
I'll do it,-rm sure she'll let me have IL
and pay her back as soon as I can"
lie had just come to this conclusion
when maid servant knocked at his door
and handed in a letter. He tore omen
the envelope, took out the enclosure and
began to read: 'My dear nephew" lac
repeated slowly. "Why, this must be
from Aunt Tamasin. She's the only
person I'm nephew to. What strange
coinci 'cncc! In moment more should
have been writing to her." Then he
went on with the letter.
81 am very sorry to be Obliged to ask Of
you the favor | am about to ask. You
as we'll rs all the rest Of my relations,
have always thought | was rch. nj.
though have lived all my life in a very
simple manner. have never said anv.
thing TO the contrary, for have found
that beng thought rich secures for ono
q great deal more attention than one
would receive IL supposed to be DOOR
lamcntabe fact, but fact nevertheless.
But this is neither here nor there. Can
you give me twenty-five dollars2 II Won
can ! want them at once.
Your mothers only sister.
TAMASIN BROCK.
Pippntown, u. J., April I, 1885,
'By Jovc!" exclaimed Adrian when
he had finished reading his aunts letter.
wants help from me, and | just on
the point Of asking n loan from her.
Poor old auntic. wonder what can be
the matter. She used TO have enough 60
live on comfortably, know, and how
good she was TO me when was little
mothcrless boy. ought to be ashamed
Of myself for not having been to see he.
for the last five years. Haven't even
written to her. Suppose she thinks rm
aselti'h wretch and have forgotten all
her kindness. But I haven't and She,
got to have that money Ny mother
only sister and my only aunt. Yc.,
she's got TO have it. But where is il TO
come from" Then his eyes frightened IL,
they fell upon his spring ovcrcoat. care
fully spread over the bacN OF his chair.